Chapter 3: Saved By The Golden-haired Beta

COLBY'S POV

The walls of the pack house, made of massive slabs, towered above me. I was supposed to feel secured here, but it was as if I was in bondage.

“Mother.” I let out a short whisper as I trailed father's faint scent. Thoughts of her had occupied my mind now. I wouldn't forgive myself if something bad happened to her, or the baby.

The sky was dark and ominous, and the clouds were moving rapidly, as though they were being chased by some unseen force. A storm was brewing, and the wind was its harbinger. It howled through the trees, shaking the branches violently and wickedly ripping the leaves apart, tossing them to the ground. The air was filled with the scent of rain, and it was getting colder by the minute.

“It’s cold.” I said to myself, shaking like an earthworm that was dropped in a bowl of salt.

I wrapped my arms around my body, shielding it from the cold breeze that assaulted my small frame, as I walked through the deserted path that led to the scouts training center. Just then, I thought of the wicked witch of the west. She was a character in the Disney cartoon ‘ The Wizard of Oz,’ which I had watched countless times in my room. And I instantly began to crave her powers. At least it can grant me the freedom I desired. I desperately wanted to fly away from this hellhole and go somewhere far, a place where father can't reach me, a place where i won't be scorned.

Suddenly, the wind came again and carried me, lifting me off my feet like I was some abandoned biscuit nylon from the ground. My eyes widened in fear, and I clung to the cold, marble pillar beside me, grabbing unto it with all strength I had got.

This was not the kind of flying I wanted. Was this how irrelevant I am? Even the crazy wind seemed to be taunting me. It didn't spare any effort in telling me that.

The atmosphere settled back into a tensed calm, broken only by the rustling of dried leaves on the ground. But my fingers dug into the smooth, polished stone as my heart pounded in my chest. I could never trust this wind.

Who knows, it might be waiting for me to release my grip before it carried me again to where I don't know.

I heard footsteps crunching on the gravel behind me and a chill ran down my spine. I turned, but I wished I hadn't. My worst nightmare had come true. Lucas and his friends were standing there, snickering and pointing at me.

I was alone, and they had me cornered. “Oh no.” I whispered. They were the last persons that I expected to be here.

“The stupid kitten son of Alpha Fenris.” Lucas, the son of Alpha Pete drawled, mockery evident in his voice.

I felt blood rush to my face as his friends laughed, and I wished I could just disappear.

“Why can't this jerk leave me alone?” I cursed under my breath, my words barely audible even to myself, because if they heard me, they'd make my live a living hell. I’d had enough of their torment, and I couldn't take anymore.

All I really wanted was to check if mother and the baby were fine. Nothing else. But I'm sure that it will never be possible now.

“The pathetic son of our pack leader. He's such an excuse of a man. His father is right in hating him. I mean, look at him,” Ronnie cackled. “No one in his or her right sense would want to have this weakling for a son. Talk more of a first son. He fucking looks like Patrick in SpongeBob. Imagine him taking over his father and leading us in war. It’s going to be a grasshopper leading a pack of wolves. He's a misfit.” He finished speaking, and I winced, feeling his malignant words slice through my heart.

“He’s only good at warming cocks.” Julio, the last of them commented.

“Just like the way he warmed ours with his slutty mouth last week.” Lucas spoke again.

My mind flashed back to that day. The day of my transformation ceremony. It was my eighteenth birthday, and it was the day I first shifted. The pain was excruciating. But what hurt even more was the look of contempt and hatred on the faces of everyone there. Father's look was the worst of all. He looked at me like I was a shit, and publicly rejected me as his son and heir.

Later that night, I was cornered by Lucas and his friends in my bathroom where I went to cry. They forced me to do things that I didn't want to do. Things I still can't bring myself to think about. And from that moment on, I lost the respect of everyone in the pack house.

“I bet he enjoyed every bit of it.” Julio uttered amidst a derisive laughter.

My body trembled, and my face became wet with my tears as I remembered the bad memory. I curled my fists and sent them a small growl. “Leave me alone you bastards.” I shrieked, my voice raw and hoarse, and I felt a burning sensation in my throat. It was like I had been screaming for hours.

I would never allow them see me a weakling. They were the same age as me.

“Oh this kitten needs taming. What do you think guys?” Lucas smirked at me, his dark eyes gleaming with malice. He walked towards me and I struggled to keep my composure.

“I-i d-on't w-w-ant prob-lems. J-just let me go.” I stammered awkwardly.

He stopped in front of me, his calloused hands reaching for my face. His skin was rough against mine, and I felt the coldness of his hands as he held my cheeks. He wiped my tears away with his index finger, and brought it to his lips, licking it slowly. He looked like a kid licking a lollipop, and I felt like the lollipop.

“Oh sweetheart, we're not here to cause trouble." He said, a smug grin spreading across his face. I felt a wave of nausea as I smelled his breath, sweet and sickly, like an overripe banana.

He continued. “We’ve got some plans for you, and I'm sure you'll enjoy them." He said, flashing me a wink that made my stomach churn.

Just then, a deep, booming voice echoed through the quiet path, making us all jump. “Get away from him this instant.”

We all whirled around to see who it was. And as soon as I laid eyes on the golden-haired boy with deep, chocolate-colored eyes, time came to an abrupt halt.

He strode towards us with burning eyes. “I said get away from him.“ He snarled, baring his long, sharp fangs. His breath was hot and reeked of spices.

Damn! Those fangs of his scared the shit out of me.

Lucas and his friends stumbled backwards, their faces contorting in fear as they took in the sight of my savior’s clenched fists and fierce expression.

“What are you doing here, Gerard?” Ronnie asked, trying to sound bold.

“To beat silliness out of three numbskulls” He answered.

“We are three, you know. We could easily take you now.” Julio fired with his razored mouth.

“Try for yourselves and see.” He said, his voice smooth and confident. A slow, predatory smile curved his lips, making him look dangerous.

Ronnie and Julio glanced at each other, their brows furrowed and their lips pressed into tight lines. Their eyes flickered between him and Lucas, waiting for something to happen. They were obviously expecting Lucas to challenge him, but when Lucas trembled and stammered like a terrified child, their jaws dropped in shock.

“I’m not a-f-raid of y-you Ger-ard. Just tell-ing you so you'd k-n-ow.” Lucas managed to utter. He threw his arms on the shoulders of Ronnie and Julio. “Let’s go guys.”

I sighed in relief as they scurried away out of sight.

“Are you okay, Colby?” He asked, palming my face with his hands and staring at me with worry.

Oh! So he knew me? Well, who wouldn't know me. Colby the pack trash! Of course, he’d definitely know me. Unsure of how to react, I just opened my mouth and gave a short reply.

“Yes, I'm fine.” I mumbled with a bowed face, feeling a gentle fluttering in my stomach.

“Believe me when I say this, those boys are bad energies. They aren't good for you.”

I looked up at the handsome stranger. “If only you can see all I've gone through in their hands.” I said internally.

“In all you do in this pack, stay away from them. Avoid them like you’ll do to a pest. But do you mind if I ask, what you were doing with them?” He questioned with furrowed brows.

My eyes met his serious gaze and I exhaled deeply. “They stopped me on my way to my mother.”

He looked perplexed. “On your way to your mother? But this is not the way to your mother's quarters.”

It seemed like he was not aware.

“My mother has gone into labour.” I said.

“Fuck! When?” He shouted.

“Some minutes ago. And my father is taking her to...”

“My mother's quarters,” He completed the statement, his eyes widening in surprise. “Come on Colby. We have to go meet them.”

He held my hand, but I quickly withdrew from his touch.

“What’s the matter?” Worry greased his forehead as he turned back to look at me.

“I don't think I can anymore. I can't face my father again.” I shook my head, fresh tears patiently waiting to drop from my eyes. “I’d just go back to my room. I'm sorry.” With that, I turned to leave, but he caught my arm.

“Don’t allow the fear of your father hinder you from getting your happiness. He may be your father, but Luna Alyssa is also your mother. Who knows? She might have given birth now. And I'm sure she'll love it if you showed up. Don't you want to see the baby?”

His reasonable words struck some strings of emotions in me and I sniffed. How could I not want to see mother? For the love of the moon goddess, I also wanted to see the baby, carry him, touch his soft hands, and inhale his mild baby scent.

How sure was I that it would even be a boy?

“I do. I want to see them.” I confessed and darted my eyes to the building beside me, hiding the tears that slid down my face.

He held out his hand to me. “Then let's go. It's will be alright, okay?”

I listened to his deep, reassuring voice and I stopped crying. This was strange. Why was it looking like his words had power over me? Looking at him now, I wished he was my elder brother. Or even something more.

I dried my eyes and placed my hand in his. “Okay.”